Wonderful Watermelon

This week Amira (almost 4 years old) came home with her school work that earned her 5 stars.

It was an outline of a slice of watermelon that she colored prettily. Honestly that was the tidiest and brightest coloring of her that I have seen. At the bottom was number 7 for the number of seeds in the picture. It was a good job, and she's obviously very proud of it too -- even making sure Umar does not touch it.

Well, Umar (2.5 years old) did say "double-u" about the picture. I'm pleasantly surprised!

This morning the teacher said she gave all the kids red color for the watermelon activity. And only Amira asked for green color too: for the watermelon skin. And that's why she got the 5 stars! I was definitely impressed!

Alhamdulillah. Thank you Allah for the blessing.

    This email and any attached files ("Message") may contain confidential and/or privileged information. It is intended solely for the addressee(s). If you receive this Message in error, inform the sender by reply email, delete the Message and destroy any printed copy. Any unauthorized use, distribution, or copying of this Message or any part thereof is prohibited. Emails are susceptible to alteration. Neither Technip nor any of its affiliates shall be liable for the Message if altered or falsified nor shall they be liable for any damage caused by any virus that might be transmitted with this Message. 

Peace

Since I am on a long leave now, I have more time to enjoy finer things in life so they say. It has been stressful, however, in the first two weeks of the baby because of the demanding toddlers whose every needs and wants I wish to fulfill in spite of my own needs to recuperate from the surgery.

By the way, it occurred to me one night when I looked at my son's sleeping and realized how blessed we are to live in time of peace that my family is safe and sound, sleeping tight, healthy and comfortable and happy in our own beds, in our own home however small and simple it is. These things are very easy to be taken for granted, astaghfirullah. I am VERY GRATEFUL, alhamdulillah, to Allah for this blessings.

I was going to Google a few things just now, in my bed now, beside my three wonderful children who are the answer to my longing and my desperate wish I had asked Allah for many years, when I decided to write this. Thank you Allah, al-Wahhab The Bestower, for answering my prayers and granting me more than that. MashaAllah. I am afraid I forget to appreciate it as much as it really means to me, and I am afraid I am not doing my best to take good care of the beloved gifts. I am asking for you Allah, Al Mumin The Guardian of the Faith, to keep me in the Right Path and for me to always remember to be a thankful servant of You and to give me the strength to perform my duty as a mother. I MUST RAISE STRONG MUSLIM CHILDREN.

Amin!

Baby!

Alhamdulillah, Thank You Allah, for another blessing, MashaAllah.

Caring Boy

One night after praying I cried. It felt like I had been holding my tears for a while, and when it burst, I let it happen. I still would like to keep it private.

But then, my 1.5-year-old son came to the room and saw the tears running down my face. He said "Why, Momma? I just continued crying. He ran out of the room, announcing repeatedly that "Momma's sad! Momma's sad!"

He came back to the room with a piece of tissue in his hand. He wiped my tears away. MashaAllah.. it was really touching. He's such a caring person! It definitely cured some of my pain.. while I wondered where he got the tissue from, because it smelled like fried banana (we just had some of that for snack that day) :-)

Anyway, I see that my boy is indeed a caring person, well matured in that aspect for a little toddler like him. If his big sister cries, he would go and give her a hug and a kiss. If anybody has an ouchy, he would kiss the ouchy away. If someone is lying down, he would try to help them go to sleep by patting the back and sometimes singing the lullaby "Tidurlah sayang..." He also holds Molly the doll and takes care of her. It makes me see how his father was - he told me he had a doll when he was a little boy. The nurturing and caring characteristics are some of the blessed things I appreciate in the family.

May Allah continue to bless us with love and care. May Allah keep our hearts tender and compassionate. May my son grow up to be a strong, bold, and smart; as well as good and caring man - like one of The Companions, Umar al-Khattab, after which he was named. May Allah reward him for his gentleness and amazing care.

Alhamdulillah.